Category — Cake Decorating Books

This is a portfolio of projects for brides-to-be and cake decorators alike, offering a selection of 25 ideas for that all-important day. Whatever the style of wedding – simple, formal, fun, traditional or modern – there is something in this book for all brides and every level of decorating skill, including one-, two-, and three-tier cakes. There are special sections on making and wiring flowers, cake-top ornaments and ribbons.

About the Author

Linda Pawsey …
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Creating a birthday cake for someone special brings joy both for the cake decorator and the cake recipient. Yet, achieving great cake decorating results also requires the fine-tuning of baking skills. There are many important preparation steps prior to the actual cake decorating which directly effect how the cake looks. A few cake decorating tools and attention to the cake layers will result in a more even cake and fewer headaches. Even Cake Layers:As the cake layers bake, the outside rim of the cake pan heats the edges of the cake layer faster than the rest of the cake. Since the outside is baking faster, the middle of the cake rises higher, creating a hump. This problem can be avoided by using Magic Cake Strips around the sides of the cake pans. Once wet, the strips are wrapped around the sides of the cake pan and pinned in place. The strips cool the sides of the pan and allow the cake to bake evenly. Cake layers exceeding 10″ need a little extra TLC. Use a heating core in the center of the cake pan to conduct heat into the middle of the cake. A heating core is a doughnut-shaped metal ring that is greased and floured, placed in the center of the pan, and filled with cake batter. The mini-cake that bakes inside the heating core is placed in the center of the cake. Even distribution of heat around the cake pan also effects the baking process. Place the oven rack in the center of the oven and the cake pan in the center of the rack. Air needs to circulate around the pan to heat it from all sides. Not all ovens heat accurately. If you suspect your oven gets too hot or takes long to cook, check the temperature. A cake baked too quickly in a very hot oven will be overdone on the outside and undercooked on the inside. If you still find your cake has uneven spots, a cake leveler is a handy tool that makes trimming the excess cake away simple. Assembling the Cake:Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes in the pan before inverting onto a wire cake rack. This gives the cake time to shrink away from the sides and allows the cake to come out of the pan without breakage. Invert the cake on to a wire rack and then invert it again. I do this twice to make sure the flat part of the cake is down. If you have any kind of hump and the hump goes face down, the cake layer will surely crack. The cake should cool entirely before proceeding. When cool, any excess cake can be removed. Place the cake layer on a cake board. If you are filling the cake with anything besides buttercream frosting,I recommend you pipe a ring of buttercream frosting all along the outside of the layer being filled. This prevents the filling from leaking out. Once the cake is filled,brush away any crumbs with a pastry brush. Applying a crumb coat will keep crumbs out of the icing. If you are decorating the cake with buttercream icing,you can simply thin it with a little milk and frost the cake. Warmed apricot jam also works well. Heat the jam in the microwave and strain it. Apply the jam to the cake with a pastry brush. Now the cake should be chilled to allow the cake to settle and the crumb coat to set. If you proceed directly to cake decorating, the filling will bulge out of the sides of the cake. Making the sides look attractive is virtually impossible when this happens. Frosting the Cake:Set the cake in the center of a lazy susan. Using a metal spatula, heap the frosting in the center of the cake. Work it back and forth while turning the lazy susan, but never actually touching the surface of the cake. If you smear the spatula into the cake,you may pull up crumbs, despite all the preparation. When the top of the cake is covered with icing, hold the metal spatula horizontal to the surface of the cake and pull it straight across the top. Remove any excess icing from the edges of the cake. Dot icing all around the sides of the cake with the spatula. The best tool to use for creating evenly frosted sides is a metal scraper. It gives you the best leverage for maintaining a straight edge as you frost. Turn the lazy susan as you hold the metal scraper perpendicular to the cake. Carefully lift any excess icing from the top edges with the spatula. If your icing is not perfectly smooth, allow it to crust for 15 minutes. Come back to it with a large piece of wax paper. Lay the wax paper on top of the cake and smooth your hands along the cake, starting from the center and working out towards the edges. Repeat this process on the sides of the cake, smoothing one area at a time. Without a doubt, baking and decorating cakes is very time consuming, but minimizing the mishaps makes it more enjoyable and gives you the best results.

With over 200 color photographs to inspire and guide, and clear and simple instructions, this is an essential and inspirational collection for anyone who loves good home baking that will impress and satisfy family, friends and guests all the year round.

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Buy 160 Celebration Cakes and Bakes: An irresistible collection of special occasion treats, illustrated with over 200 beautiful photographs at Amazon

Cake decorating equipment is essential to the cake decorating craft. Once you have baked your cake the next step is to decorate the same. Simple decoration can turn a plain cake into a work of art. But in order to do that you need cake decorating equipment.

When you start to decorate your cake you start with icing or frosting the cake. The purpose of the icing is to provide a smooth surface to decorate the cake further. Then you can put some flowers on the cake or some figures or you would like to write some message on the cake.

To fulfill your imagination and make it real on the cake you need proper tools with you. Cake decorating equipment makes your work easier. In modern times you get lots of cake decorating equipment in the market.

When you think about decorating your cake, generally icing is used. In order to cover your cake completely you need to spread the icing evenly on the cake. You need spatula to do that. If you have angled spatula the task becomes easier and you will get a professional looking cake on your hand.

After the icing is done then comes the decoration. For that you need a icing bag which you can fill and start your cake decoration. The icing bag or a syringe comes with different tips so that you can make different shapes on the cake.

If you have a turntable your job of decorating a cake becomes much easier. The turn table helps you to turn the cake so that you can have a look at the cake from all the sides. The turntable is easy to maintain and clean.

If you want to decorate the cake with a scene after you put in other things, you need to paint the back ground. To help you in this task the airbrush comes in handy. The food colors that you get help you to create magic on the cake.

If you want to decorate the cake using flowers you can do so by using fresh flowers of make flowers on your own. The flower making accessories that you get in the market make life easy. The flower nails help you to decorate the cake better as it helps the flowers to stay in place.

With the help of modeling tools you can make various models to adorn your cake. If you are using frosting that can be rolled out you need a non stick board and rolling pins. Some rolling pins come with a self design. You can make interesting designs with their help. Vines for flowers and leaves help you to create real looking flowers and leaves for your cake decoration.

It is always good to have a cake decorating kit with you as well as cake decorating equipment because these make the task of decorating the cake simple. You enjoy creating the master piece on the cake. Plus your family and friends will love looking at eat and relish the fantastic looking cake.

This quirky collection of celebration cakes boasts the unique but easily achievable modelling skills of internationally renowned cake designer and sugercrafter Maisie Parrish. Each design has true character and unique charm and is ideal for a celebration with a difference, from birthday ballerina mice to carol-singing penguins. Each project is accompanied by quick-to-make cupcakes and minicakes to complement the main cake or to make when time is short. With simple sugarcrafting …
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Kate Sullivan has baked wedding cakes and party cakes for some of New York’s most interesting weddings and events. Featured in numerous magazines, Sullivan is a respected and creative baker. For the first time, she brings her knack for creating the unusual to those of us who want to bake more than a layer cake but aren’t sure how. Kate’s Cake Decorating features her sought-after recipes, designs and cake-decorating tips as well as personal stories about creating and delivering c…
Buy Kate’s Cake Decorating: Techniques and Tips for Fun and Fancy Cakes for All Occasions at Amazon

This quirky collection of celebration cakes boasts the unique but easily achievable modelling skills of internationally renowned cake designer and sugercrafter Maisie Parrish. Each design has true character and unique charm and is ideal for a celebration with a difference, from birthday ballerina mice to carol-singing penguins. Each project is accompanied by quick-to-make cupcakes and minicakes to complement the main cake or to make when time is short. With simple sugarcrafting …
Buy Fun & Original Character Cakes at Amazon

Every child has a favorite story, whether it’s about a little mermaid, an ugly duckling, or a brother and sister who meet a witch in a gingerbread house. And no matter how many times mom and dad tell that tale, it’s never enough; the young listener is hungry for more. So maybe it’s time to delight that young prince or princess with a magically decorated, hand-baked cake based on that beloved book. All the necessary inspiration and instruction are here, from fondant fundame…
Buy Fairytale Cakes: 17 Enchanted Creations at Amazon

Review

Although ready-made celebration cakes are readily available from the supermarkets these days, they do all tend to be much of a muchness. They also belie the ease with which they are made. This colourful book from David and Charles highlights the work of three celebrated cake designers – Stephen Benison, Lindy Smith and Linda Wilson-Barker – and teaches you how to make them yourself. Some admittedly require a degree of experience and confidence but many are far simpler than…
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This book is about starting a cake business. Learn how to set up your cake baking and cake decorating business, including marketing, lowering your taxes and organizing your business. It also reveals “insider” baking secrets, professional baking tips, and special ways to easily make more money. Time management secrets and a unique action plan are also provided to you.

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Buy Starting a Cake Business: How to Start a Cake Decorating Business at Amazon